Landscaping is one of the best ways to improve your home’s overall value. Not only does it make your property more attractive, but it also helps you save money on utilities and repairs because landscaping plants can reduce the amount of water and fertilizer needed to keep them healthy.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Choose plants based on their mature size |
| Consider soil type and drainage |
| Evaluate light exposure |
| Plan for water and irrigation needs |
| Mix and match plant colors and textures |
| Incorporate native plants for ecological benefits |
| Consider maintenance needs |
| Think about the plant’s lifespan and future growth |
| Use a variety of plant types for visual interest |
| Consult with a professional for personalized advice |
But before you start investing in new plants, consider these tips:
Determine Your Needs
Decide on the specific needs you want to address with your landscaping. Think about what you’d like to achieve and make a list of those goals, along with time frames and budget considerations.
Once you’ve done this, come up with a plan that will help you achieve these goals while staying within your budget and timeframe.
If you want to create a beautiful outdoor space without harming the environment, consider incorporating sustainable elements into your design. Our guide on creating a beautiful eco-friendly outdoor space offers plenty of tips to help you reduce your ecological footprint and enhance your outdoor space at the same time.
Consider The Growing Conditions Of The Plant
When choosing the right landscaping plants for your yard, it’s important to consider the growing conditions of each plant.
Some plants require more water and sun than others, so it’s important to know what your environment can give you.
If a plant requires more water and sunlight, you should choose an area with full sun exposure. If you’re looking for a place that doesn’t get too much heat or light, think about other areas of your yard where there is shade during most of the day.
If this sounds like a good idea but not enough shade is available in any one spot, consider planting a tree in that location instead!
- A few examples of plants needing either less sunlight or less water include:
- Roses (low maintenance)
- Hostas (low maintenance)
- Caryopteris (high maintenance)
| Plant | Ideal Growing Conditions |
|---|---|
| Azaleas | Acidic soil, filtered sun |
| Daylilies | Full sun to partial shade, well-draining soil |
| Staghorn ferns | Humid environments, shaded areas |
| Lavender | Full sun, well-draining soil |
| Sago palm | Full sun to partial shade, well-draining soil |
By choosing plants that are adapted to your yard’s growing conditions, you can ensure a healthy and thriving landscape design. Research the ideal growing conditions for each plant you’re interested in adding to your landscape to ensure success and longevity.
Start With Color
Color can be a great way to add interest to your yard. It can also help you define different areas of your yard, create unity, or serve as a focal point for a garden or landscape.
When choosing landscape plants with color, think about what colors already exist in your yard and which ones are missing.
If you have a lot of dark green shrubs and trees with only small amounts of light green grass throughout the yard then adding some bright yellow flowers may be just what you need to make it feel like spring again!
Choosing the right plants for your garden can be a challenge, especially if you’re new to landscaping. Fortunately, our guide on must-have landscaping plants offers plenty of expert advice to help you select the most attractive and functional plants for your landscape.
Decide On Size And Shape
The next thing to consider is the size and shape of your yard. If you have a large yard, you may want to create space by spreading out plants that grow tall and wide.
On the other hand, if you live in an urban area with limited space, it’s best to stick with small plants that can be planted close together.
You should also consider whether or not there are any special considerations for climate or weather patterns where you live.
For example, if winter temperatures tend to dip below freezing each year, evergreen shrubs like cedar trees will probably do better than deciduous shrubs like hydrangeas because they produce more foliage during summer months when most other plants are dormant.
Decide on your budget: One thing is certain—you’ll need some money before starting a landscape project! Once again though there are lots of options depending on what kinds of materials interest you most (iPad apps vs physical books anyone?).
The costliest option might require hiring professional help so make sure whatever method(s) suit
| Plant | Size And Shape |
|---|---|
| Crepe myrtle | Large, dramatic tree with pink, purple, and white blooms |
| Boxwoods | Versatile shrub that can be shaped into topiaries or hedges |
| Hydrangeas | Rounded shape and blooms in various colors |
| Hostas | Herbaceous perennials with broad, heart-shaped leaves |
| Weeping cherry | Smaller, ornamental tree with pink or white blossoms |
Choose plants that complement and balance one another in size and shape to create a harmonious and visually appealing landscape design. By carefully selecting plants based on size and shape, you can create a cohesive look that enhances the beauty of your yard.
Look At Texture
Texture is a visual quality of the plant. It refers to how rough, smooth, soft or hard the leaves are on the surface of a plant.
Some plants have fine texture and some have coarse texture. Some plants like cacti are spines that are very sharp and prickly which means they have a very distinct feeling when you touch them.
Other plants such as ferns have softer leaves that feel more gentle than cacti but still has distinct lines in it’s leaves so it also has a certain kind of texture as well due to its shape and size compared to other types of foliage around it like grasses or shrubs which do not always grow up tall enough for us humans (or even animals) eyesight unless they’re near us because most animals can see farther than us with their nose into what’s underneath those low hanging branches.”
Timing is everything, especially when it comes to planting a new landscape. Our guide on the best time to plant your landscape provides valuable insight into how to choose the right season for your planting project, along with tips for getting the best results from your efforts.
Consider Flowering Plants And Fillers
Flowers and filler plants can be used for a variety of purposes. They provide color to your yard, and they also fill in empty spaces. If you have an area that needs some extra color or texture, flowering plants are an excellent way to fill it in.
Flowering plants can also be used as a border around your yard. A border will help define the edge of your property, which makes it clear where your yard ends and where other properties begin.
Border flowers are also great for separating different areas inside your garden because they add visual interest while still maintaining their own distinct look and feel (e.g., you might put yellow flowers at the front door entrance so guests know where they should go).
You can even use flowering plants as backdrops for other plants! Backdrops provide structure by creating either vertical lines or horizontal lines that give perspective to everything else around them (e.,g., if you have multiple rows of shorter bushes behind taller trees).
| Plant | Description |
|---|---|
| Black-eyed Susan | Drought-resistant with yellow and brown flowers |
| Impatiens | Low-maintenance and come in various colors |
| Lantana | Thrives in hot temperatures with pink, yellow, and orange colors |
| Petunia | Comes in various shades of white, pink, and purple |
| Alyssum | Forms low clumps and blooms in purple, pink, and white |
By selecting flowering plants in various colors, you can add bold and eye-catching focal points throughout your yard, while fillers can help to fill in any gaps or spaces between larger plants.
Consider these recommendations when selecting flowering plants to help you create a vibrant and lively landscape design.
Find Out What Is Native To Your Area
Native plants are a great way to bring the beauty of nature into your yard. They can be used for landscaping, flowerbeds, and other types of landscaping as well.
But why should you use native plants?
Native plants are already adapted to your region’s environment. This means that they will grow much better than non-native varieties that may have been brought from another part of the country or even from another country altogether.
Native species have been tested over time by nature and have proven themselves hardy enough to thrive in the local climate and conditions. They also often have fewer pests than non-natives which helps keep them healthy with less maintenance required on your part!
Native species often attract wildlife like bees, butterflies, birds etcetera which can help make any yard more enjoyable without needing extra work on your part too!
Finding the right plants for your home requires careful consideration of your property’s unique characteristics and your own personal preferences. Our guide on selecting the perfect landscaping plants provides plenty of helpful tips and advice to help you choose the perfect plants for your landscape and ensure the best possible results.
Balance Is Key
Balance is key to a successful garden. A well-balanced garden is one that incorporates plants of varying heights, textures and colors.
When used together, these can create an eye-catching focal point while still blending into the rest of your yard.
For example: if you want tall trees, then plant shorter shrubs or groundcover around them. If you have long grasses in your lawn area, add some shorter perennials along with it for contrast in color and texture against the green blades.
Have A Purpose For Every Plant You Choose
You might be a little overwhelmed by the sheer number of plants available. It can become especially difficult to choose when you’re looking at pages upon pages of options on a website or in an online catalog, but it’s important to remember that every plant has a purpose.
Before you decide which landscaping plants are right for your yard, ask yourself why they’re needed and how they’ll fit into your overall vision for the space.
For example: if you want something tropical-looking in your backyard because it adds color and contrast with all its green leaves, then consider palms like coconut trees or pandanus trees as well as hibiscus flowers (which are also beautiful).
On the other hand, if you have a large area of grass that needs filling out because it feels sparsely populated by itself and let’s face it: most lawns do then planting perennials like daisies could make everything look fuller while still keeping things natural-looking due to their low profiles.
| Plant | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Japanese maple | Adds color and provides shade |
| Forsythia | Provides early spring color and screens out unwanted views |
| Boxwoods | Offers year-round color and shapes |
| Thuja Green Giants | Ideal for privacy screens due to their fast growth |
| Hydrangeas | Adds colors and serves as a centerpiece |
By choosing plants that serve a deliberate purpose, you can ensure that your landscaping design is more cohesive and functional. Take time to consider the purpose you want each plant to fulfill in your yard to select the right plants that meet your needs.
Don’t Overlook Environmental Benefits
If you’re looking to make a difference in your yard, consider the environmental benefits that landscaping plants can provide. For example, some plants clean the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.
Other types of plants help reduce noise by acting as sound barriers, or they reduce water runoff by absorbing rainwater or reducing evaporation from soil surfaces.
Sustainable landscaping practices can help you create a beautiful landscape that’s also good for the environment. Our guide on the top 15 sustainable landscaping practices offers plenty of ideas for how to reduce your ecological footprint and create an outdoor environment that’s as beautiful as it is responsible.
Think About Maintenance Issues
So, you’ve made the decision to put in some new plants. But before you do so, consider exactly how much maintenance these plants will require.
Some plants are low-maintenance and can be used for beginners or those who don’t have a lot of time to spend on their yard.
Others require more attention and are best left to experienced gardeners and landscapers. To help determine which type of plant is right for your situation, ask yourself these questions:
- How much sunlight does it need?
- How often must I water it?
- What kind of trimming should I do every year?
| Plant | Maintenance Needs |
|---|---|
| Arborvitae | Fast-growing and low-maintenance |
| Hostas | Low-maintenance, but vulnerable to pests and diseases |
| Knock Out Roses | Minimal pruning and upkeep |
| Rhododendrons | Regularly prune dead or damaged branches |
| Ornamental Grasses | Can be low- or high-maintenance, depending on variety |
It’s important to choose plants that fit with the level of maintenance you’re willing to invest in your yard. By selecting plants that are well-suited to your available time and resources, you can ensure that your landscape stays healthy and attractive year-round.
Conclusion
Don’t forget, with all the choices and plants available to you, it can be overwhelming. But, if you keep these tips in mind and do your research on each plant before purchasing or planting it in your yard, you will be able to find the perfect landscaping plants for your needs!
Further Reading
Plant Selection for the Landscape: This comprehensive guide explores the basics of plant selection for landscape design and provides practical advice for choosing the right plants for your property.
Plant Selection Guide: 10 Tips for Choosing the Right Plants for Your Landscape: This guide highlights 10 essential tips for selecting the right plants for your landscape, including how to evaluate soil conditions and plan for future growth.
Landscape Design 101: Choosing the Right Plants: This informative post provides guidance on how to choose the right plants for your landscape, including how to choose plants that will thrive in your climate and soil conditions.
Here is the FAQs section in H2 with at least 5 questions and their answers in H3:
FAQs
How do I know which plants are best for my landscape?
There are several factors to consider when selecting plants for your landscape, including soil type, light exposure, and climate. Researching plant varieties and consulting with a local expert can help you evaluate which plants are best for your property.
What should I consider when choosing plants for my landscape?
When choosing plants for your landscape, it’s important to consider factors such as the plant’s growth habit, maintenance requirements, and aesthetic qualities. Additionally, think about how the plant will interact with other plants and elements in your landscape design.
How can I create a cohesive landscape design?
To create a cohesive landscape design, consider the overall style and theme you want to achieve. Look for ways to incorporate repeating elements, such as color or texture, throughout your design to create a sense of continuity.
Are there any plants that are best avoided in landscape design?
Some plants can be invasive or require lots of maintenance, making them poor choices for landscape design. Additionally, plants that are not adapted to your climate or soil conditions may struggle to thrive and contribute to landscape issues.
How can I ensure that my plants thrive in my landscape?
Proper plant care is essential for ensuring that your plants thrive in your landscape. This includes providing the right amount of water and nutrients, pruning and trimming as necessary, and protecting your plants from pests and disease. Consulting with a local expert can help you develop a care plan that works for your specific landscape design.
Hi! My name is Hellen James, and I’m a landscape designer in Los Angeles. I’ve been working with homeowners and businesses to help them improve the look of their properties for over 10 years.
